1. Taming the WildNovosibirsk, RussiaPhoto: Vincent J. Musi This brown rat’s angry display at the photographer reflects 73 generations of breeding for hostility to humans. Scientists at Novosibirsk and in Germany are comparing the aggressive rat genome to that of rats selected for friendliness, attempting to untangle connections between DNA and behavior. “It looks like a prison cell with a bunch of mad prisoners, ready to lash out at each other, which is basically what these rats are doing. And the whole frame, the way it moves from not just the aggressive rat but to how the other rats are reacting to him, is a moment that is absolutely unforgettable.”—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

    Taming the Wild
    Novosibirsk, Russia
    Photo: Vincent J. Musi

    This brown rat’s angry display at the photographer reflects 73 generations of breeding for hostility to humans. Scientists at Novosibirsk and in Germany are comparing the aggressive rat genome to that of rats selected for friendliness, attempting to untangle connections between DNA and behavior.

    “It looks like a prison cell with a bunch of mad prisoners, ready to lash out at each other, which is basically what these rats are doing. And the whole frame, the way it moves from not just the aggressive rat but to how the other rats are reacting to him, is a moment that is absolutely unforgettable.”
    —Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

     
  1. leftfieldfreeform reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily and added:
    Taming the Wild Novosibirsk, Russia Photo: Vincent J. Musi This brown rat’s angry display at the photographer reflects...
  2. kissthelightning reblogged this from ianbrooks
  3. ronimatic reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily
  4. alittlebiteofeverything reblogged this from ianbrooks
  5. girlmadeinchina reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily
  6. viclovesmatcha reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily
  7. littlekraken reblogged this from whitedenial-ontrial and added:
    this is just evil. poor rat babbies
  8. whitedenial-ontrial reblogged this from theratherclumsydodger
  9. nyssainthetardis reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily
  10. captainginyu reblogged this from ianbrooks
  11. zenandartof-tum-blrmaint reblogged this from petite-conne
  12. anniecrusta reblogged this from ianbrooks
  13. undefinedsoul reblogged this from nationalgeographicdaily
  14. weweremfeo reblogged this from charlyneyi
  15. greedy-fly reblogged this from ianbrooks
  16. dxdt reblogged this from charlyneyi
  17. jishhd reblogged this from ianbrooks
  18. maisur reblogged this from ianbrooks
  19. ecaep reblogged this from optima-dies--prima-fugit
  20. shelbilee21 reblogged this from ianbrooks
  21. ohigotya reblogged this from ianbrooks
  22. jayisdead reblogged this from charlyneyi
  23. 1000dayfishingtrip reblogged this from ianbrooks